In the mid-1990s, Thomas Huber discovered a widespread problem in the Carolinas - high humidity in crawlspaces - with no solution. It all started when his neighbor's house in Gastonia, North Carolina had a $30,000 repair to its structure due to wood rot and termites caused by high humidity levels in the crawlspace. In talking to the contractor and termite inspector, he realized that his house would be next unless he did something about his own crawlspace.

Thomas Huber had a background in mechanical engineering from the prestigious ETH University in Zurich, Switzerland. Not only was he an engineer, but his father, Jakob Huber, was as well. They addressed problems the way engineers do - sit down, think it through, and invent something. The thought was to keep it simple yet effective. Jakob worked with engineering and computer software students in Switzerland to create the first prototypes. Over the years, the system has been optimized several times yet still works on the same basic principle: use the best atmospheric conditions to better ventilate the crawlspace and exchange the air.

Businesses always have unusual origins. In this case, the threat of a $30,000 repair prompted the action of two engineers to create a solution to avoid the damage. It turned into a business. Now, your crawlspace can benefit from their tinkering and avert potentially expensive repairs in your crawlspace.